Chamomile Bath Milk

Ingredients

2 1/8 cups sunflower oil

1 ounce dried chamomile flowers or 2 1/8 ounces fresh

20 drops lavender essential oil

1/2 cup coconut cream

Directions

THIS IS NOT EDIBLE. Chamomile's anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties make it soothing for irritated skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema, and enriching for dry, itchy or sensitive skins. Normally people add only a small tablespoon-sized splash of bath milk to the tub, which I've always thought is a ridiculously small amount compared to the hundreds of liters of water in the average bath. At such microscopically low concentrations, it is extremely implausible that any of the active chemicals could have any effect whatsoever. The great thing about this sunflower oil-based milk, however, is that it's light and non-greasy and also has the benefit of being very cheap, so you can really go crazy and splash in as much as you want for an effective, luxurious and skin-soothing soak. For the coconut cream, buy either tins or blocks of creamed coconut and follow the instructions to make it up into liquid form.

Mix the oil and chamomile flowers together in a glass heatproof bowl. Cover and place the bowl above a pan of simmering water. Simmer gently away for 1 hour, being careful the pan does not boil dry (make sure there is no gap between the pan and bowl), then leave to cool.

Once cool, strain the oil and discard the spent flowers. Stir in the lavender essential oil. The resultant chamomile and lavender-scented oil also makes a brilliant soothing skin and massage oil that will keep for up to 1 year.

To transform the floral oil into a dispersing bath milk: whisk the oil 1 tablespoon at a time into the coconut cream, making sure the mixture is thoroughly combined between additions of oil. You should end up with a rich milk, about the consistency of double cream. All you've got to do then is bottle it up.

Pour 100 to 200 milliliters of the milk into the bath. Can be used for adults and children aged 2 to 16.

Keep refrigerated, and use within 1 month.

NotesThe content of this program is for entertainment purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult a professional healthcare provider before trying any form of therapy or if you have any questions or concerns about a medical condition. The use of natural products can be toxic if misused, and even when suitably used, certain individuals could have adverse reactions.